Mahler’s Child Development

Question 1

Autistic

Answer 1

0-1 month. State of half asleep half awake. Major task is to achieve homeostasis equilibrium with the environment

Question 2

Symbiotic

Answer 2

1 - 5 months. Social smile characteristics. Dim awareness of caretaker but infant still functions as if he and the caretaker are undifferentiated and fused

Question 3

Differentiation

Answer 3

5-10 months. Process of hatching from autistic shell. Becoming more alert which reflects cognitive and neurological maturity. Comparative scanning and becoming more anxious. Seeing others besides mother. Curiosity and fear

Question 4

Practicing

Answer 4

10-16 months. Upright locomotion. New perspective and mood elation. Mom is home base. Characteristics and separation anxiety

Question 5

Rapprochement

Answer 5

16-24 months. Aware of physical separation dampens mood elation. Bridge gap between self and mom. Temper tantrums. Rapprochement crisis (wants to be soothed but not able to accept help). Helpless frustration. Resolution of crisis happens as skills develop. Can now get gratification from doing things alone. Recognizes people don’t disappear

Question 6

Object consistency

Answer 6

24-36 months. Better able to cope with mom’s absence and use substitutes. Begin to be comfortable with absence. Knows she will return. Thinks mom as reliable. Can tolerate delay and endure separation